Stella Cameron - Out of Body

A cloth in Danny’s hands squeaked around the rim of a glass. When Marley looked at him, he was staring at her and frowning. He threw down the cloth and crossed his arms on the bar again, leaning closer to Marley. “It’s late,” he said. “Can you call someone to come and see you home when you’re ready?”

“I’ll be fine.” She smiled, liking him for the concern. “I’ll get a cab.”

“What are you doing here?”

“Having a martini,” she said. So she stuck out like a nun at a Chippendale show.

“Okay, have it your own way, then.”

“Thank you, though.” She smiled at him. “Does Sidney…Do Amber and Sidney sing here every night?”

“They used to,” he said, noncommittal. “Most nights, anyway.”

“When did they come back?”

“This is Sidney’s first night back since…Amber—you’ve heard of Amber before?”

“I have.” Nothing would be gained by pretending otherwise. “And I know she’s missing, but you talk as if she’s still here.”

He gave her a speculative stare and moved away to serve several other customers. For the time of night there was plenty of business around.

Sidney had a face not easily forgotten. Latin features and olive skin. Dark arched brows, large, heavily-lashed brown eyes, a narrow-bridged nose, fine, high cheekbones and jaw. Her hair shone honey-colored, but Marley didn’t think it was the natural color—it ought to be black. A lovely woman with a lovely figure—and something markedly aloof about her.

A different bartender asked if she wanted another drink. Marley looked at her almost untouched glass and shook her head.

“Can I talk to you?” Danny appeared at her right shoulder. He was anxious, everything about him troubled—and vigilant.

“Of course,” she told him, excited in case she was finally about to learn something useful.

He led her between round, brass-topped tables to one of the alcoves where looped and fringed draperies gave an impression of privacy for the table and banquettes inside. They slid onto seats upholstered in green cabbage-rose fabric.

“Are you here about Amber?” Danny said without preamble. “You don’t look like a cop, but that doesn’t mean you’re not one.”

“I’m not one.”

“But—”

“Yes, I came to see if I could find out anything about Amber.”

“You’re just looking for a diversion?” Danny said. “You get a kick out of other people’s tragedies?”

She shook her head fiercely. “No way. I hate that kind of thing. I’ve got a good reason for being here. Take it or leave it.”

Danny studied her awhile before he glanced away. “Okay, if you say so.”

“Thanks,” Marley said. “I’m amazed to see Amber’s partner here. I thought she wouldn’t talk to anyone.”

“She won’t. But she wants to get back to work. She’s ambitious.”

The tone of his voice was neutral, but Marley thought something other than her was making him uncomfortable or angry.

“And you don’t think she should be singing again.”

He shook his head. “Not as long as Amber’s missing. It’s not right.”

“People need money to live,” she pointed out.

“Yes.” He shrugged. “I don’t know anything about her, really, except she’s private, just like Amber was. Like she is .” He corrected himself forcefully.

“Are you two friends?” she asked, prepared for Danny to refuse an answer.

“Yes,” he said.

She waited, but he didn’t add any more.

“Do the police know that?”

He shrugged again.

“They’re scratching for leads,” she told him. “They’d want any information you’ve got.”

“I love her,” he said, looking at his hands. “She doesn’t take me seriously so we’re just friends. I think something happened and she took off. Could be her brother. She used to talk about him and I thought he worried her. Maybe she went to look for him.”

“Don’t you think the police could use your ideas?” Marley said, while he kept staring at his fingers, laced tightly together on the table. “Why are you telling me these things when you won’t tell the police?”

“You’re different.” He pushed back on the banquette and stared at her, his lips parted. His eyes darkened and faint lines of color rose high on his cheeks. “I don’t know why I’m telling you. I’ve been desperate. I suppose I…I can feel that you care about her, too. You know her, don’t you?” His whole upper body lunged over the table.

“I do care,” Marley said. She controlled an automatic need to move back from his face. There was nothing new about someone being drawn to her. They felt her empathy and it attracted them. People talked to her, told her personal things that would surprise her if she didn’t understand why it happened.

“You didn’t say who you are,” he said.

She hesitated.

“I’m not dangerous,” Danny said. “Anyone will vouch for me. I’ve been here at Scully’s two years.”

He could say anything, but she had no means of knowing if he was truthful. “Is Amber your girlfriend?”

“No. I told you she’s a friend, but not my girlfriend.”

“Why doesn’t she want more?”

“I can’t talk about that.”

“Okay.” He hadn’t said a word that would help her find Amber. “Where does she live?”

“She’s so private. She wouldn’t forgive me if I gave away the peace she’s made for herself.”

“But you do know where she lives?” Marley persisted. Detective Archer had pretended not to hear the question when she asked him.

Applause broke out for Sidney and the pianist. Sidney had been sitting on a stool, but now she stood and Marley saw that she was tall.

“I do know,” Danny said.

Marley cocked her head. “I thought you did, but I didn’t expect you to admit it. Didn’t the police ask you a lot about her?”

He looked closed, stubborn.

“They did, but you didn’t tell them much.” Suddenly she was uncomfortable and wished she was back in her flat. He had admitted something to her that he’d refused to tell the authorities. Was he trying to gain her trust?

How could she know if Danny had played a part in Amber’s disappearance?

“Why don’t you let me take you home?” he said. “Ben’s covering for me. I’d feel better if I knew you were safe.”

Each little hair on Marley’s neck rose. Her back prickled. “I’d like to finish my drink,” she told him, with no intention of doing so.

“Of course. Take your time. You won’t repeat anything I’ve said, will you?”

She had to lie. “No.”

He walked away, only to come back with her drink before she could decide on the next step. “Why are you looking for Amber?” he said.

The only surprise was that he hadn’t asked that very question before. “It’s hard to explain.”

“Do it anyway.” His voice grew more intense and his lips scarcely moved. “Tell me what you know. You owe me that.”

“I don’t owe you anything.” Marley expelled a breath through pursed lips. Too often she spoke too fast and before thinking enough. “I’m in a bad spot about this, too.”

When he closed the fingers of his left hand around her wrist, Marley winced. She wouldn’t allow herself to try pulling away. “That doesn’t feel so good.” She looked pointedly at his hand.

“If you know anything about what’s happened to her, tell me. Now.” His grip tightened.

“Loosen up, Danny,” a familiar male voice said, and Danny’s fingers went slack. Pain contorted his face.

Marley snatched her wrist away and turned on her seat, shifting back in the booth at the same time.

“You okay, Marley?” Gray Fisher asked, still squeezing a tendon in Danny’s shoulder.